Unfortunate Reality

I got into an interesting conversation with a co-worker who was the opposite of me in almost every way. She actually had good parents, a loving and encouraging upbringing, and virtually no major struggles in her life…not to belittle her or her feelings, but the things she considered major were extremely minor in comparison to the thing I had faced.

For example: Her father was a kind and loving man, but because of his work wasn’t able to give all the attention the daughter felt she deserved. She had a level of resentment toward her father because of this. When compared to my father, the BAPTIST MINISTER who got a twisted enjoyment out punching, choking, slapping and beating my brothers and I as if we were grown men…I would have gladly taken the father who loved and cared for me, but couldn’t come to all of my football games because he had to work in order to support our family. I would have loved the father who encouraged me…rather than always telling me how STUPID I was.

The young woman and I talked briefly about religion. She had such admiration for God, spewing the usual Christian jargon…and she actually criticized me for not having the same level of joy and told me that I should have been ashamed of myself for not giving God my total love and admiration. She called me ungrateful for not loving life as she did, then preceded to giving me a “guilt trip” about my negative feelings, because God had done sooooo much for me. As I listened to her…I realized that…in a VERY ODD sort of way…I had lost a level of respect for her. It was very hard to describe…odd…is the only word that comes close to how I suddenly felt. Here was a person who had experienced very little pain or struggle in her life, trying to preach to me with such a sanctimonious tone.

I listened calmly to what she had to say and thanked her for her advice. But as I walked away I came to the realization that though God can use ANYONE…it is people like me who can make the biggest impact. People who have been scarred, abused…people who have suffered horribly through many things, but through it all have overcome with the help of God. How can you help someone out of something, when you yourself have never been through anything?

I hate it when people scream “REPENT FOR YOUR SINS”...”LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART”…and leave it at that. There is a REASON why some people are resistant, there is a REASON why some people don’t just drop everything and follow The Lord with total and unwavering faith. There are many shades of grey as to why people feel the way they do; simply regurgitating scriptures and repeating hollow words is not enough.

Follow The Lord…or go to Hell…yea…that’s pretty much black & white. But I think when you explain it to people it should be done with a certain level of understanding for what that person has gone through…not just spitting out words and expecting them to simply accept it without question or doubt.

I agree with you man. Honestly, I feel like most Christians that go through more stuff than other believers have trouble trusting in god at times. We all struggle and fall short, but comparing one's joy to another is simply fallacy. You can't do that, at the same time this example that you have shown to me is a perfect example of how to turn someone off to god.

But we have to push through despite meeting bad people. I have gone a lot through my life as well and sometimes having that extra straw really does break the camel's back. Why do some people have a perfect life while others seem to find misery in every place they look... I really don't know. But, I do know that we cannot give up and I pray that if you do give up on people don't give up on god.

While reaidng your account these Bible verses came to mind

Luke 7:47
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”


the Gospel is not about punishment for disobedience and the message should not be LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART for that is only HALF the truth and the Enemy uses half truths all the time to twist and manipulate people. to guilt trip them and make their faith wear down.

the part that seems to be forgotten is JESUS died on the Cross for YOU . He suffered because he LOVES YOU. Can you find it in your heart to love Him back?

He loves you, he died for you. He wants the best for you. He does not plan evil but wonderful and good things for you and your life. Will you come back home?

wIll you listen? will you love God?

Then the peace of the Lord and His overflowing waters of life will come from your heart not because you made it happen but because you accepted God's love for you and now you are able to give love back to God and share His love and light with the rest of the world.

Most people think I had a happy and normal childhood because I am typically happy and upbeat, but apperances can be deceiving and trusting a Heavenly Father when your earthly one tries and kill you and your brothers can ony be done through faith and divine intervention.

It reminds me that you may only be seeing the surface and most don't know what you have gone through but neither do you know what they have gone through but do not speak about. Repressed memories are sometimes best left that way.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA[/video]

you're in my prayers. May God keep and guide you and give you His peace and Joy.

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! YES!! The Lord can VERY MUCH use people like you!!

AMEN!!

I look forward to seeing what the Lord is doing with you.

May Jesus bless you.

Ananda, I believe this s the type of thing he is talking about. In fact, I saw the same as empty words. Pretense, and silly talk. I understand very much what he is talking about, although then, I didn't care to be as blunt about it.

But now, after learning from him, I have gone through many things like he has, and I have seen that this empty talk doesn't come from true love of God, which many Christians claim they have, but a love of making themselves seem righteous and holy, but they can't back up what they say with the works that Jesus commanded to them.

Oh, but I was more harsh then, before Jesus laid me on my back and taught me the truth. I used my words to cut down many fakes.

But recently I have learned so much, that there will always be fakes, but only Jesus is the truth.

If any Christians wants to be a real witness, let them consider themselves FIRST, that they once hated the truth, and didn't seek God, and had NO faith whatsoever!!.

We cannot judge one who does not have faith, neither can we convince one to love God. If we show faith, and if we show the love of God, perhaps one might at least wonder.

But if Christians persist in being hypocrites, in saying, LOVE GOD, but hating one another, or BE PATIENT, but in not being patient, or, TRUST GOD, but complain every time something a little bad happens, what does this say about him?

Yes, it is a very unfortunate reality, which is why I said in another thread, it is ''depressingly realistic.'' Pretty much the same thing I see, he is being shown by Jesus.

Tribe, may Jesus bless you.

Yeah, i know someone who has a friend who is similar. This woman has had a very easy life, she even admits to it. My friend on the other hand, has had a difficult life. The 'easy lifer' can sometimes have an attitude like she is a bit critical of my friend for not having certain attitudes or being certain ways. These people don't understand the emotional and mental toll that suffering brings to people. They don't understand the weariness of the fight. They just know rainbows and marshmellows and kitty cats. Do not expect a person like that to understand you. Until they live it they will never get it.

What you have said is a very interesting thing.

You said, ''they don't understand the weariness of the fight.''

I will put aside tribes post, and speak to this ''weariness of the fight.''

There are, as you both realize many Christians who don't understand this weariness of the fight, yes, but let's talk about another weariness of the fight.

There is a fight that goes on between a man who is saved, and that man's old past. It is a constant fight and it brings weariness also. That is why it was written, ''Don't grow weary in well doing.''

This fight is a fight against sin. Not the sins of other people, but of our own personal issues. So it seems (now, let me be a little forward also), that both you and tribe have become the judges.

There are Christians that were saved out of a whole HEAP of trouble. And I am one of them. And neither would I let anyone try to shame me back into my old ways either. This is another weariness of the fight. Just because I want to praise him for what he has done, and someone else doesn't know my story, doesn't mean I should go back into guilt.

Yes, I am weary too, and there are Christians who are weary too.

You see, I can be forward also, but as I said, I do understand where tribe is coming from, because I came from the same place, and just as Tribe wants out, so did I. But when I got out, I didn't want to go back. And at times I was lured back, and then it started all over again, until one day I said, THAT IS IT!!!

AND THAT WAS IT!!

Tribe, it is a narrow road to find the truth, and very few people do, even many Christians haven't. If you think you are somehow hated now, you will be much more hated then. If you think you speak the truth now, nothing compares to the truth you will know then. If you think you are wise now, your wisdom will be put to nothing.

You are tough. Paul was tough. Peter was tough. All the apostles were tough men that came from the rough parts, but neither of them could contend with Jesus. He broke them down first, then he made them tough to take on the mission he had for them.

I believe the Lord is preparing you Tribe.

May Jesus bless you.

I agree with you.You are who you are And only God can change youAnd btw, God loves you just the way you are
He knows you really well He knows your past And nobody can judge you for feeling this or that way

God bless you!
All the best to you!

Jo.

you have no clue where I am coming from Ramon. I don't know what I have done to make you mad at me and if I knew I would apologize but I haven't a clue what I would be apologizing.

My talk isn't empty.

My father tried to kill my brothers and me when I was very young. I watched my mother be beaten because he decided that my little brothers deserved to die and she stood in his way.

you have no clue about my life or what I have gone through. Don't talk to me about empty words.

you speak too many of them yourself.

I'm sorry tribe I was just trying to share with you what helped me overcome it. i'll just leave now.

went for a walk and thought about it. perhaps my message got lost in a lot of words.

simple:

its not about how much you love God or do not love God, its about how much God loves you.

Spend some times with God until you understand with all of you that you are beloved of God. Allow Him to heal your wounds and teach you His ways and mature in you the Fruits of the Spirit.

then when He says move you can move and love others. you will not be happy all the time, some times you will suffer and cry.

the two words that touch my heart from the Bible are: Jesus wept.

don't look towards the people around you for answers. pray, ask God He will answer you.

If you look to how your life should be, read the account of Jesus and see how He lived. He laugh, He cried, He loved, He was tormented and died. He was prosecuted, yet through out it all He followed GOD and His love never wavered.

May be do the same. God bless and keep you.

Praise God for Our Lord lives!